THE OTHER RACES : Rain Softens Turf Course, but Northern Spur Doesn’t Mind

More than seven months after he made it, Ron McAnally’s prediction came true.

The Hall of Fame trainer told owner Charles Cella last winter at Santa Anita that Northern Spur, a horse Cella purchased for $1.3 million, was going to win the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Over a course softened considerably by rain, the 4-year-old son of Sadler’s Wells did just that Saturday, although it took him quite some time. The final clocking for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:42, nearly 18 seconds off the course record.

Kept close to the pace by Chris McCarron, Northern Spur, who has won two in a row since adding Lasix, took over from Turk Passer on the turn, then gamely withstood Freedom Cry to win by a neck.

“I’ve never been so happy in my life,” said Cella, president of Oaklawn Park. “I’ve been looking for a champion for 30 years.”

Northern Spur, beaten in his first two American starts before winning the Oak Tree Invitational three weeks ago, went off at 7-2 after opening 12-1 on the morning line. Second to Lammtarra in the Arc in his previous start, Freedom Cry finished two lengths ahead of Carnegie, who raced coupled with fourth-place finisher Tamure.

Other Breeders’ Cup races:

JUVENILE

Unbridled’s Song was the best sale owner Ernie Paragallo didn’t make.

He purchased the son of the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner for $200,000 as a yearling in 1994, then consigned him to the Barretts select 2-year-old sale at Fairplex earlier this year, where he brought a price of $1.2 million.

The successful bidder was Japanese owner Hiroshi Fujita, but the sale was voided when Fujita’s veterinarian found evidence of a chip in the colt’s left front ankle.

Unbridled’s Song was returned to Paragallo, who placed him in training with Jim Ryerson.

In only his third start, Unbridled’s Song won the Juvenile, outbattling Hennessy by a neck to win in 1:41 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles. Ridden by Mike Smith, he paid $12.40. Wayne Lukas finished 2-3-4 with Hennessy, Editor’s Note and favorite Honour And Glory, respectively.

Scratched three times when he was scheduled to run, Unbridled’s Song broke his maiden by 8 1/2 lengths at Saratoga in August, then tired to fourth in the Champagne three weeks ago after opening up a big lead.

Taken off the pace by Smith after being bumped by Blushing Jim leaving the gate, the Kentucky-bred responded to the change in tactics and had Paragallo, who races under the name of Paraneck Stable, already predicting a Triple Crown sweep next year.

JUVENILE FILLIES

Golden Attraction had beaten My Flag three times this year, most recently by three-quarters of a length in the Frizette Stakes at Belmont three weeks ago, but Saturday My Flag was a half-length winner, with trainer Wayne Lukas’ fillies, Cara Rafaela and Golden Attraction running 2-3.

Golden Attraction, ridden by Gary Stevens, was battling Cara Rafaela and Pat Day for the lead on the inside when My Flag came flying in the center of the track under Jerry Bailey.

My Flag, scoring her second victory in six starts, paid $9 as the second choice behind Golden Attraction. The time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:42 2/5 on a muddy track.

Golden Attraction had won six of seven races before Saturday, the loss also coming on an off track.

“I came into the stretch with a lot of horse underneath me,” Stevens said, “but then the racetrack started getting away from her. She loses her confidence and needs to be held together on a track like this. I knew at the five-sixteenths pole that I was in deep water.”

SPRINT

When trainer Fabio Nor and his wife, Joanne, divorced, she was left with all of their horses. Frank Lyons, an Irish horseman who had been Fabio Nor’s assistant, took over the stable.

One of Joanne Nor’s horses, Desert Stormer, became the third filly to win the Sprint when she outran another longshot, the 31-1 Mr. Greeley, by a neck after a long stretch drive. Lit De Justice, who was 10th and far back after half a mile, finished third, beaten by about two lengths.

Other fillies to win the Sprint were Safely Kept in 1990, also at Belmont, and Very Subtle at Hollywood Park in 1987.

Desert Stormer and Lit De Justice were dropped into the mutuel field by the track handicapper, who thought they had the worst chances to win. Desert Stormer came into the race off a second-place finish, two lengths behind Track Gal in the Rancho Bernardo Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 13. Track Gal finished 11th Saturday. Desert Stormer paid $31 and was timed in 1:09.

Desert Stormer gave Kent Desormeaux his second Breeders’ Cup victory. “We said that they were going to have to catch us this time,” Desormeaux said. “We changed tactics and we got her home.”

MILE

John Murtagh, the 25-year-old jockey who rides Ridgewood Pearl, carries a religious medal from Lourdes, France.

“It’s sewed into my hat,” Murtagh said. “Sometimes you need some help from up there.”

In his first Breeders’ Cup race, Murtagh rode Ridgewood Pearl to a two-length victory over Fastness in the Mile. Ridgewood Pearl, who had not run on a left-handed course before Saturday, had won five of seven starts in Ireland and England.

“She canters most days in a left-handed direction,” said John Oxx, who trains Ridgewood Pearl. “Also we were told that the bends at Belmont were the easiest in the United States, so we weren’t concerned.”

Ridgewood Pearl was favored and paid $7.10. Her time on a soft course was 1:43 3/5.